LUMBER & PATTERN:

How to builda wood duck house

fl Use "grade 3" cedar,rough on one side.fl Sides, front, back and floor:1" x 10" (actual 3/4" x 9-1/4").fl Roof: 1" x 12"(actual 3/4" x 11-1/4").fl Rough surface goes on theoutside on completed house.

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25-3/4"

24-1/4"

57-3/4"24-1/4"

25-3/4"

7-3/4"

Rip side to 8"

53"24" 29"

9-1/4"

END VIEW

FRONTBACK

CLEAN-OUTDOOR SIDE FLOOR

IMPORTANT: Rough side up whencutting front and back panels.

Nail hinge

11-1/4"

13"

ROOF

Flip

over to

com

plete o

val

Front

Bot

tom

Floor recessed 1/2"

Clean-out door. Plane to7-7/8" at back edge of dooronly! This allows for a 1/16"gap at each side of door.

Staple 4" x 12" exit ladder to back offront panel, made from 1/4" wire mesh

Use a wood raspto round out afinger hole

Button latch

15°cut

END VIEW

45°cut

6"

18"

Nail hinge placement1"

1/4" bolt ornail hole

Offset roof1" backfrom backpanel

3/4" hole. Hang box withlag bolt and washer

3/4" strip of woodabove nail hinge

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65

64" of cedar shavingsfor nest base material

© Copyright1991, DonHelmeke

fl Don (The Duckman) Helmeke, duck box designer,says woodie houses built and erected as late aslate April have a chance to attract a pair.The best time to erect houses is lateMarch to early April, however.fl Next to design, placement of the woodduck box is critical to attract a nestingpair. The terrain between the box andwater should be easily accessible toa hen and her brood and free ofobstacles such as highways, curbsand mesh fences.fl Hen wood ducks aren't fussy abouthow high nesting boxes are placed. The nestbox may be hung as low as eye-level and mayface toward or away from water. Proximityto water is important and will help survivalof the ducklings after hatching; however, henwoodies have been known to nest hundredsof yards away from the nearest water.fl Old houses should be opened and inspectedin March. Add more wood shavings (notsawdust) if necessary.fl Other critters may move into theneighborhood. Everything from squirrelsto woodpeckers, even snakes, areknown to occupy wood duck boxes.

ENTRANCEHOLE PATTERN

Actual size

fl 3" x 4" wood duckand hooded merganserentrance hole.

(2-1/2" circle forbuffhead).

(3-1/2" x 4-1/2" forgoldeneyes).

Nail hinge. Use a square toalign rear hinge nail with front

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